We like May and October to travel to Italy. Weather is pretty good and less crowds giving us better ability to do things. Also love Abruzzo (slightly prejudiced since our family is there 🥰) and Marche which has plenty of beautiful villages to wander through! Puglia last October was a delight! Always enjoy your recommendations! Keep them coming 😊 and thank you!
Before we retired we used to fly out on Christmas evening after celebrating at home and back on New Year’s Eve. Flights were empty. Weather was variable...had some gorgeous days, some rain, sleet/snow in Paris one year. Have done Rome and Paris on multiple separate trips on that schedule...Christmas decorations were still up, crowds were not super crazy.
Elizabeth- I have been in Rome for 10 days and have seen what you described. Yesterday Rome seems to have exploded with visitors. I feel so lucky to have been here in May not June. Your recommendations made every meal truly memorable. The fettuccine Al limone at Ai Pompiere , amartriciana at Flavio al Velavevodetto; carbonara at Felice a Testaccio - Grappolo D'Oro, Armando Al Pantheon.... I am so appreciative of your generosity sharing your truly Roman favorite places. Last night I didn't have a reservation so I tried my luck and it was clear that not all food in Rome is made with the care and tradition of your recommendations. I look forward to booking a tour with you or your daughter to spend a week enjoying your dolce vita in Italy.
We are tied to the school schedules for the next ten years! But getting them to witness Italy crowded is better than no Italy at all. Considering a Puglian Christmas, is this a good idea? We’ve been in the summer but thought it might be a nice simple Christmas place.
You're right, better than nothing at all. But also consider heading to less crowded places during the high season. Puglia could be good for Christmas, just make sure you're staying somewhere that has heating. So many of the villas are meant for the summer, so don't have heating.
Sara Cagle would be a great addition to your food tour team. She’s a freelance writer and private chef based in Florence, and she travels all over Italy. Check her out on Instagram — saracagle.
Totally agree with the suggestion to travel off season. We are in Puglia now and it’s heavenly! No crowds, even in Alberobello - but we were there later in the afternoon, probably after bus crowds had left. We will be in Rome in another week or so. I’m hoping I won’t be shocked by unbearable crowds in my favorite Rome. I love it nonetheless. We will just try to avoid crowded areas during peak times of the day.
I was in Rome in Jan 22, Sept 22 and Feb 23 - it’s so much better in the cold and it really isn’t even that cold. A suggestion for a smaller place to visit, Agropoli. It’s lovely and the only thing better than the food are the vistas and it’s history. Consider a stop.
Yes, yes, yes to off season travel. I am heat intolerant so two past visits to Rome in late November were perfect. I live in a rainy city so I don’t let that put me off.
Enjoy your travels to Norway. It is a spectacular country.
I definitely agree with traveling in the off-season, if at all possible. For me it has to do with an intolerance for heat, as well as my aversion to crowds. I love Italy in the Spring and Fall and this year I'm going to Florence in November! I wish the Christmas markets would be open, but I'm leaving the day before Thanksgiving, so I think it's a little early for them. Maybe next time?!
I visited Rome and Florence with my daughter several years ago in February. I couldn’t agree with you more. We had a little drizzle, but only needed to wear a light jacket (though the Italians were bundled up!) And the only place that there were real lines was the Vatican Museums (but even there we booked a tour that allowed us to jump the line.) Restaurant reservations were easy to come by. And many Italian children looked adorable wearing costumes as seems to be the custom in the lead up to Lent. Highly recommend February travel!
We like May and October to travel to Italy. Weather is pretty good and less crowds giving us better ability to do things. Also love Abruzzo (slightly prejudiced since our family is there 🥰) and Marche which has plenty of beautiful villages to wander through! Puglia last October was a delight! Always enjoy your recommendations! Keep them coming 😊 and thank you!
I don't know Le Marche at all, and always mean to go there.
Before we retired we used to fly out on Christmas evening after celebrating at home and back on New Year’s Eve. Flights were empty. Weather was variable...had some gorgeous days, some rain, sleet/snow in Paris one year. Have done Rome and Paris on multiple separate trips on that schedule...Christmas decorations were still up, crowds were not super crazy.
And we used your old apps and had amazing meals in Rome (and other cities on different trips).
Flying on holidays is always the best way to nab good prices for tickets!
Elizabeth- I have been in Rome for 10 days and have seen what you described. Yesterday Rome seems to have exploded with visitors. I feel so lucky to have been here in May not June. Your recommendations made every meal truly memorable. The fettuccine Al limone at Ai Pompiere , amartriciana at Flavio al Velavevodetto; carbonara at Felice a Testaccio - Grappolo D'Oro, Armando Al Pantheon.... I am so appreciative of your generosity sharing your truly Roman favorite places. Last night I didn't have a reservation so I tried my luck and it was clear that not all food in Rome is made with the care and tradition of your recommendations. I look forward to booking a tour with you or your daughter to spend a week enjoying your dolce vita in Italy.
I"m so happy to hear you ate well. And yes, Rome last week was just crazy. This week seems much calmer, at least yesterday and today was.
We are tied to the school schedules for the next ten years! But getting them to witness Italy crowded is better than no Italy at all. Considering a Puglian Christmas, is this a good idea? We’ve been in the summer but thought it might be a nice simple Christmas place.
You're right, better than nothing at all. But also consider heading to less crowded places during the high season. Puglia could be good for Christmas, just make sure you're staying somewhere that has heating. So many of the villas are meant for the summer, so don't have heating.
We love early Spring. Still green and not hot. We plan on visiting Abruzzo, Puglia and Calabria next year for 2 months
Sara Cagle would be a great addition to your food tour team. She’s a freelance writer and private chef based in Florence, and she travels all over Italy. Check her out on Instagram — saracagle.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Totally agree with the suggestion to travel off season. We are in Puglia now and it’s heavenly! No crowds, even in Alberobello - but we were there later in the afternoon, probably after bus crowds had left. We will be in Rome in another week or so. I’m hoping I won’t be shocked by unbearable crowds in my favorite Rome. I love it nonetheless. We will just try to avoid crowded areas during peak times of the day.
I was in Rome in Jan 22, Sept 22 and Feb 23 - it’s so much better in the cold and it really isn’t even that cold. A suggestion for a smaller place to visit, Agropoli. It’s lovely and the only thing better than the food are the vistas and it’s history. Consider a stop.
I've never heard of Agropoli!
It’s about 1 1/2 hrs south of Napoli on the coast. Vecchio Saracino and Enoteca Segreta are two of Agropoli’s amazing restaurants.
Yes, yes, yes to off season travel. I am heat intolerant so two past visits to Rome in late November were perfect. I live in a rainy city so I don’t let that put me off.
Enjoy your travels to Norway. It is a spectacular country.
I pick cold over heat any day!
I definitely agree with traveling in the off-season, if at all possible. For me it has to do with an intolerance for heat, as well as my aversion to crowds. I love Italy in the Spring and Fall and this year I'm going to Florence in November! I wish the Christmas markets would be open, but I'm leaving the day before Thanksgiving, so I think it's a little early for them. Maybe next time?!
Any concerns about visiting Puglia in late October?
No, it's gorgeous then. And shouldn't be rainy and might even be pretty warm still.
I visited Rome and Florence with my daughter several years ago in February. I couldn’t agree with you more. We had a little drizzle, but only needed to wear a light jacket (though the Italians were bundled up!) And the only place that there were real lines was the Vatican Museums (but even there we booked a tour that allowed us to jump the line.) Restaurant reservations were easy to come by. And many Italian children looked adorable wearing costumes as seems to be the custom in the lead up to Lent. Highly recommend February travel!
Yes, that's carnevale that the kids dress up for. So cute!
I think we all might have replied to that journalist’s question with the same answer 😂
Exactly!